On September 10, the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that since the beginning of the year, nearly 100 cases of measles have been detected in the province.
In particular, from August 2024 to present, many outbreaks have continuously appeared in some districts in the province, with a series of cases requiring hospitalization.
Thus, in parallel with the dengue fever epidemic that is raging, the Dak Lak health sector continues to face and closely monitor the measles epidemic to have appropriate handling directions, preventing outbreaks from spreading widely.
In August and early September 2024, Lak district recorded 8 measles outbreaks, with 28 cases of measles.
Through research, there are still many areas in Dak Lak province with very low measles vaccination rates for children. These are mainly concentrated in remote areas with large ethnic minority populations.
According to statistics from the Lak District Medical Center, from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2024, the area lacked some types of vaccines, causing many children to not be fully vaccinated, including measles vaccine.
For example, in Krong No commune, in Lach Dong village, the measles vaccination rate among the people reached 47%, the rate of fully vaccinated children reached 30.3%...
Mr. Hoang Hai Phuc - Director of CDC Dak Lak province - said that to prevent measles, in the coming time, the unit will strengthen monitoring activities, early detection of disease cases to thoroughly handle outbreaks as soon as cases are detected.
The medical force will organize regular vaccination for subjects (under the expanded immunization program) to ensure safety and effectiveness. Localities will review and evaluate areas with low vaccination rates to have plans for catch-up vaccination and vaccine sweeps.
According to Mr. Phuc, educational institutions, especially kindergartens, preschools, and nurseries, must implement disease prevention and control activities such as ensuring cleanliness, ventilation, and adequate lighting in classrooms...
At the same time, the medical force will regularly organize inspection teams and promptly direct the correction of disease prevention work.
In particular, focus on areas with low vaccination rates and poor management of subjects to proactively prevent the risk of disease outbreaks.
